Kansas City Chiefs news, rumors and injuries

Kansas City Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt led the NFL - among players who recorded at least 175 carries - with 4.63 yards gained after defenders closed within one yard of him in 2017, according to Next Gen Stats.

Fantasy Tip: This should come as no surprise to any of his owners, as Hunt routinely used exceptional balance and power to keep his feet after he got past the first level of defenders. Spencer Ware's return in 2018 could make a repeat of his league-leading rushing campaign unlikely, but Hunt has all the makings of being the next great Andy Reid running back.

Kansas City Chiefs LB Justin Houston will not be among those released by the Chiefs, according to a source. Houston carries a 2018 base salary of $14.75 million and a cap number of $20.6 million. He would carry $12.7 million in dead money if he were to be traded or released.

Fantasy Tip: The Chiefs put their faith in Mahomes when they dealt Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins this week. Mahomes has a huge arm, and he'll be a QB2 in 2018 with tons of upside, especially in keeper formats.

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce said that he knows QB Patrick Mahomes is "ready for the opportunity" and that the club can "without a doubt" win a championship with Mahomes under center. "He can throw the ball any way, he can throw it off his back foot and he can jump and throw, he can throw the ball anywhere, any way you need for it to be thrown," Kelce added. "His confidence is definitely one of the best attributes to his game."

Fantasy Tip: One of the biggest transitions in all of football next season will see how the Chiefs fare moving on from Alex Smith to Mahomes, their 2017 first-round pick whom they drafted out of Texas Tech. The 22-year-old received one start in his rookie campaign -- a meaningless Week 17 tilt in Denver -- and didn't disappoint, racking up 284 yards on 62.9 percent passing. While his ceiling is high, he'll begin the season as more of an option for two-quarterback formats.